The fluorescent tube produces visible light by the process of fluorescence. The lamp load itself is resistive, but the electronic ballast that is connected between the ac line voltage and the lamp for controlling the lamp current is a capacitive load. Before going through the working principle of a fluorescent lamp, we will first show the circuit of a fluorescent lamp in other words circuit of tube light. The uv light is converted into standard visible light using. A fluorescent lamp generates light from collisions in a hot gas plasma of free accelerated electrons with atoms typically mercury in.
The light bulb is an electric light source thats technically called a lamp. This term is, of course, also more commonly used by consumers to mean a portable type of lighting such as a table lamp or a desk lamp. The quartz lamp used in this experiment is the same as a compact fluorescent lamp except that it has no phosphor. Animation shows the circuit of the first kind of fluorescent lamp called the preheat. The working principle of todays modern electronic ballasts is to avoid the use of starters for the preheating purpose. What is the principle of operation of a fluorescent lamp. Whats the difference between a compact fluorescent light. Cfls produce light differently than incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lamps cfl bulbs are a twist on traditional fluorescent technology. Fluorescent lamps or tubelight work by ionizing mercury vapor in a glass tube. Therefore, there is no major difference between the working principle of a fluorescent lamp and a cfl. Low pressure mercury fluorescent lamps or tube lights. The basic construction of a cfl consists a tube which is curvedspiraled to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic ballast in the base of the lamp. Peter cooper hewitt new york city had a history of innovations in other fields, and when he set about on the project of the mercury vapor lamp in 1898 it only took 3 years to develop the first reliable lamp with.
Even though the main working principle of most light bulbs is nearly the same, the function of compact fluorescent lamp. The chart shows the energy usage for different types of light bulbs operating at. A fluorescent lighting system usually uses more watts than the rated lamp wattage because the ballast also consumes. They are by far the most widespread discharge lamp types. Conventional lamp ballast the simplest form of ballast is an inductor. In addition, most compact fluorescent lamps have an integral ballast that is built into the light bulb, whereas most fluorescent tubes require a separate ballast independent of the bulb. It is a pn junction diode which produces light when current passes through it in the forward.
A typical application involving a fluorescent lamp an auto switching light. In this article, well find out how fluorescent lamps emit such a bright glow without getting scalding hot like an ordinary light bulb. Rk primer of school lighting lamps and maintenance. Circuitry, anatomy, and repair tips for common cfl lamps. The low pressure mercury fluorescent lamps are commonly called as tube. Created as a more energyefficient option for conventional incandescent applications, cfls screw into. Working principle a tl lamp is a low the tubular fluorescent lamp works on the lowpressure mercury discharge principle. A fluorescent lamp, or fluorescent tube, is a lowpressure mercuryvapor gasdischarge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. A fluorescent lamp tube is loaded with a gas containing lowpressure mercury vapor and argon. A compact fluorescent lamp cfl, also known as a compact fluorescent light or. A fluorescent lamp generates light from collisions in a hot gas plasma of free accelerated electrons with atoms typically mercury in which electrons are bumped up to higher energy levels and then fall back while emitting at two uv emission lines 254 nm and 185 nm. This automatic lighting system can be installed in your home to light the premises using. Product title ushio compact fluorescent w mini twist gu24 cool w. Compact fluorescent lamps in addition to the basic, straight tubular lamps.
This article discusses the construction and working principle of low pressure mercury fluorescent lamps also known as tube lights. The cfl is defined as the lamp which uses the low pressure mercury vapour gas for producing the visible light. In the fluorescent lamp the luminous section of the gas column is artificially. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor, which. Working principle of mercury vapor lamp polytechnic hub. Compact fluorescent bulbworking of electronic ballast and components. Ballast balance how fluorescent lamps work howstuffworks. They are available in both tubular and compact versions. A ballast can only slow down changes in current it cant stop them. In a cfl, an electric current is driven through a tube containing argon and a.
A fluorescent lamp has changed over electrical energy into useful light energy to a great deal more proficiently than incandescent lamps. What is fluorescent lamp the fluorescent tube consists of a glass tube 25mm in diameter and 0. Its known as the compact fluorescent light bulb, or cfl, and its illumination comes by way of a much different mechanism. Fluorescent lighting has a great advantage over other light sources in any application. Compact fluorescent lamp working principle the electrons that are bound to mercury atoms are excited to states where they will radiate ultraviolet light as they return to a lower energy level. The transformer elements in a magnetic ballast use this principle to regulate the current in a fluorescent lamp. A compact fluorescent lamp cfl, also called compact fluorescent light, energy saving light. Fluorescent lamps work by ionizing mercury vapor in a glass tube. A fluorescent lamp is a low weight mercury vapour lamp that uses fluorescence to deliver visible light. This causes electrons in the gas to emit photons at uv frequencies. How compact fluorescent lamps workand how to dim them.
Tube has two electrodes on both ends which is treated with barium. Fluorescent lamp and working principle of fluorescent lamp. Compact fluorescent lights cfls and how they work, floodlight fixes, do they become dimmer, interference with infrared remote control. The normal luminous viability of fluorescent lighting frameworks is 50 to100 lumens per watt, which is a few times the adequacy of incandescent lamps with equivalent light yield. It is possible to active quite high lighting intensities without excessive temperature rise and owing to the nature of light sources, the danger of galore is minimized. A compact fluorescent lamp cfl, also called compact fluorescent light, energysaving light.
Electronic fluorescent lamp ballast stmicroelectronics. The basic principles of the most commonly used lamp types. Well also find out why fluorescent lamps are more efficient than. This emitted ultraviolet light is converted into visible light as it strikes the fluorescent coating as well as into heat when absorbed by other materials. If the question is what wattage compact fluorescent cfl lamp has a similar light output to an incandescent lamp of a given wattage, the ratio is usually about 4. I dont know about you, but im so used to the paradigm established by oldstyle incandescent bulbs that when one of my cfls blows out, it doesnt even occur to me that i might be. The glass tube is bent and both its ends are fixed onto a base that holds the ballast and can fit into. Instead of a glowing filament, cfls contain argon and mercury vapor housed.
Electrical articles 8 may 18 the extensive use of the mercury vapor lamp depends entirely upon the versatility of the mercury. The tube contains argon gas at a low pressure of 2. Fluorescence is the conversion of ultraviolet uv light to visible light. Although the operating principle of compact fluorescent lamps is. Most cfls today and all energy star certified cfls use electronic ballasts, which do not buzz or hum. Of course, if youre using less energy, your energy costs are going to go down. When tube is made on, starter and choke carry current, heating up the coils at ends of tube, which release some free electrons in area around.
This term was first coined by the british scientist sir george stokes in 1852, following his observations on the mineral fluorite which. Figure 1 shows a driving circuit for a fluorescent lamp. Tube has on both ends two electrodes faced with barium. Traditionally, energysaving lights save energy by making light without the heat using a completely different process called fluorescence. How compact fluorescent lamps workand how to dim them ee times. Compact fluorescent lighting cfl construction and working and. The complete cfl figure 1 includes the edison screwbase and plastic housing, the electronic ballast, and the fluorescent lamp formed into a compact spiral shape. How a fluorescent light works schematic animation youtube. Working principle of fluorescent lamp polytechnic hub. This design works on the same basic principle as the traditional starter. Fluorescent continued energy and cost use for more information refer to wattage. The principle of operation remains the same as in other fluorescent lighting. Electrons flow through the fluorescent lamp and collide with mercury atoms.
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